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The Trail to the Lonely Tree

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Where ancient memories awaken, a jaguar’s quest begins.

In the whispers of the wild, a legend is reborn. A spellbinding tale of ancient prophecies and forgotten wisdom set in the mystical Rio Grande Valley. When Oracle, a jaguar from the Yucatán, journeys north in response to an ancient prophecy, he sets in motion an extraordinary adventure of friendship, courage, and rediscovery.

One prophecy. One jaguar. The fate of a forgotten world.

Guided by the memory of Eden and the prayer of the last jaguar, Oracle encounters an unlikely band of animal companions—including a clever raccoon, a steadfast horse, and a wise old toad—as they guide a lost boy named Miracle through a landscape both beautiful and fraught with danger.

Can Oracle not only fulfill the prophecy but help the animals reclaim ancient truths before they are lost forever? He must find the legendary Lonely Tree and reawaken the animal kingdom’s forgotten heritage before it’s too late.

Against treacherous obstacles, their journey becomes a race against time and the ever-encroaching world of Man to fulfill an age-old prophecy, restore balance to the Valley, and recover the long-lost memories that hold the key to salvation.

The Trail to the Lonely Tree is more than just an adventure—it's an encounter. This hope-filled tale explores the quest for courage in a fallen world and how to make the faith journey—and its sacrifices and disappointments—worthwhile.

Immerse yourself in a profound and prophetic exploration of belonging, purpose, and the enduring power of stories that bind us all. You will be captivated by the rich world-building, for everyone loves a timeless tale of wisdom woven throughout an adventure that lies just beyond the veil of our everyday world.

The Trail to the Lonely Tree is the first of the seven-volume Jaguar Oracle series. Dive into this poetic story of friendship, destiny, and daring designed to impart courage for your unique calling.


Follow the trail. Find the tree. Change the world.

Buy it today.

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2024

7 people are currently reading
17 people want to read

About the author

Kurt Mähler

3 books223 followers
Kurt Mähler authors captivating mythopoetic literature, crafting immersive stories to baptize the imagination. Inspired by the prophetic tradition and the mysteries of the Ancient Faith, Kurt draws on the influence of Lewis and Tolkien, George MacDonald, Dante and Milton, and the Hebrew prophets.

Through rich narrative and symbolic encounter, Kurt’s books guide you on the journey from disillusionment to courage. And along the way, hidden beneath the surface of the tale, are hidden treasures for beginning again: joy-giving sorrow, healing, a fresh mindset, and personal insight.

With decades of global experience and a unique blend of poetic artistry and ancient wisdom, Kurt invites readers to explore new ways of seeing the world and embracing their calling.

Learn more at https://kurtmahler.com, where you’ll find original writings, can book him as a speaker, and receive a free reflection exercise from his proprietary life coaching framework, Courage for Your Calling™.

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for ArynTheLibraryan.
327 reviews31 followers
December 21, 2024
This epic fantasy will take you on a journey of faith and awakening alongside some incredible animals who remember there’s more to life than their personal comfort and safety.

There are times, such as when the boy, Miracle, shares his story, that you’ll probably cry.

Then again, there’s other times when you’ll either roll your eyes or have to laugh at how fitting certain observations and comments are.

This is a unique tale, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read the first installment. I didn’t realize it was book one of six until after I’d finished reading it, which shifts my perspective a bit. There’s a lot more setup required in a six-book epic adventure.

I’ll admit I had a hard time getting into the story, and it never quite grabbed me the way I was hoping (probably more because my life is upside down at the moment), but it did give me quite a bit to think about.

For instance, this quote got me thinking about how often I choose the predictable, normal, safe option rather than the faith option:

“I wish I had a more noble reason to give you, but there is no noble reason, only a natural one. Jaguars, like almost all things moving under the sun, prefer the predictability of their own paths to the ancient one. For they imagine in their hearts, ‘My own path is the safest, for here I will stay full, but to seek a new path is to risk being empty.’”

Kurt Frederick Mähler, The Trail to the Lonely Tree

One thing that fascinated me was the way Oracle was able to help others remember the names Adam gave them, and who they were created to be. How both man and animals remembered how to do the things that needed doing, but had lost the WHY.

And the name the animals gave the ark, the “Tomb of the Fallen Trees” made me laugh out loud.

But the perspectives of the animals and the ‘lost manchild’ are so well done and challenging that you won’t regret a journey with Oracle and his friends, if you give them a chance.

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Deana Dick.
3,061 reviews128 followers
December 13, 2024
One of the most intriguing animals to me is the jaguar Their beauty is undeniable, their strength and grace is evident and their ability to watch their surroundings with precision make them a creature to appreciate. I love reading about them and even wanted one as a pet when I was younger. This book got my attention because of a jaguar named Oracle.

The story reminds me of a place where peace dwells. The animals live in harmony and trust the One who created them. Oracle comes upon different animals and allows them to share their story. I liked how the author illustrates how we each are here for a reason. When we all work together with our gifts we are able to overcome the enemy.

The author writes in a way that captures the elegance of all that has been created. Reading the chapters I stated to see a pattern of life, beauty, color, sweet smells and everything that is good in the world. There is adventure in the story as well as decisions that enhance the point that we each have choices to make.

Prophecy is evident in the story and I liked how Oracle with wisdom, power and grace wanted to see it brought forth. Great read and one that will have you thinking long after you close the book.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Profile Image for Nyla Kay.
Author 1 book24 followers
December 17, 2024
The Trail to the Lonely Tree is Book 1 of the Jaguar Oracle Series by author Kurt Mähler. This is a Christian, Magical Realism Fantasy novel. The eye catching cover on this book intrigued me and played a large part in why I signed up for this book tour. I am so glad it did, too. This book is an utter delight filled with hope, inspiration, and faith.

This is the story of Oracle, the jaguar, and his adventures. His friends are some animals and a young boy. They are charming as they embark on a mythical journey to fulfill a prophecy. These characters are cleverly crafted and easy to engage. They are adorable and wise.

The author has a lovely style of writing. From the beginning I was invested in the story and later the characters. His plot seemed plausible and not silly. I found myself turning page after page to continue the story. It had me captivated.

This tale has stayed with me since finishing it. I was challenged to define myself. It made me want to know the story God wrote about me. I really loved this book. In fact, I am still pondering it.

This would make an amazing book club selection. There is so much to discuss. It gets a 5 star rating from this reader. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.
Profile Image for Holly Bleggi.
1,339 reviews23 followers
December 24, 2024
This was an interesting story. This story is definitely outside of the usual books I read but it had an interesting plot. It was full of Christian elements while telling the story of a jaguar who is taking a journey to fulfill a prophecy. I thought it was interesting that while this jaguar was traveling, as he met different creatures, he was able to help them remember who they really were from the beginning of time. I liked how the different animal ended up banding together to accomplish a common goal. I did struggle a little bit with the author’s writing style since it is written in the prophetic and poetic writing style so it took me a little bit longer to understand what was happening then in other books I read but it still was a good story.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
6,145 reviews
November 26, 2024
The Trail to the Lonely Tree starts off The Jaguar Oracles series by Kurt Mähler. I am not a huge fantasy fan but the gorgeous cover had me intrigued and wanted to find out how if the book was just as good. I loved Oracle the jaguar's tale and taking this adventure with him. I found his story offered hope and inspiration.


I am going to give The Trail to the Lonely Tree four stars. I believe fans of clean fantasy fiction will not want to miss out on this one. I am curious to see what happens next in the second installment from The Jaguar Oracles series, The Search for the Shadow Cat.



I received a paperback copy of Kurt Mähler's The Trail to the Lonely Tree from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Debbie.
2,538 reviews4 followers
December 22, 2024
c

I really didn’t like this book, but it wasn’t as bad as some fantasies are. I did like that the animals tried to and did save the little boy they found. I liked that Oracle tried to help the animals remember their names that Adam gave them. Even though I didn’t particularly like this book, I want to read the next one in the series because I want to know what happened to Oracle and if he is saved so in that way, I think some readers could say that this book ended in a cliffhanger. I think readers who like animal stories would like this book.
I received a complementary copy from the author and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.
About
2 reviews
February 2, 2025
This book contains all of the elements you want in a fantasy series plus more. The story combines deep thinking with child-like delight. There are many mysteries to uncover through poetic platforms and joys to be found in the winding adventure. Can’t wait to continue reading book 2 to see how the story unfolds. I’m in!!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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